Serena Morgan has done A Maze of Death (8A+) in Bishop (CA). The Dave Graham boulder from 2002 has been logged 116 times and boasts a 4.6-star rating, putting it among the best out there.

Can you tell us more about doing your first 8A+?
I first tried Maze almost 4 years ago and did quite well on it, but hadn’t been back to try it again until now. After working on other styles, it felt much harder than I’d remembered. I spent several days doing some re-learning and new learning to make it possible for me. Back in Colorado I’ve just been long-term projecting, so it was really fun and rewarding to try hard and execute!

What are your 2026 plans?
I’m pretty psyched to try the Altruist and Lost when I get back to Boulder. I’m thinking of staying out there through the alpine season and then spending the fall/winter in Bishop and maybe Yosemite.

Gianluca Vighetti has repeated Adam Ondra’s recent Niobe (8c+) in Arco. ”3rd go. Epic slab, a lot of flexibility is required.” (c) Nicolò Conterno

Can you tell us more about your quick ascent?
The moment I saw Ondra's video on his FA of this route, I was immediately captured by these incredible moves and excited to give it a try. The route was as amazing as l imagined it to be, one of the best l've ever tried for sure. After one attempt I unlocked all the cruxes and almost sent it on my 2nd go falling at the very last hard move due to a slightly wrong foot placement, then after resting very little I gave one last try when there was almost no light and sent it.

Honestly, I don't have the experience to give a real opinion on the grade because l've never tried an hard slab route before but It's so beatiful that (even if it's necessary) I'm almost sorry to talk about the grade, I know that this thing is 100% my style but, even if I think it's difficult enough to be 9a, I don't exclude the possibility that it might be easier.

Simone Tentori has had some great days in Valle Bavona doing Primitivo (8C), 4-Low (8C) and Roadkill (8C). ”Surreal experience climbing it myself. The kneebar drove me crazy, but stocked to eventually unlock it.”

How can you best explain the great progress this year?
2025 was a breakthrough year for me. I could spend more days on the rock than ever before and skipped indoor training for several months. I was seeking to push my limits further and decided to focus exclusively on very hard lines. In the past 12 months, I could climb 10 problems graded 8C (including one 8C+) and tried so many more across different locations, rock types, and styles. That was such a valuable lesson and I feel that it contributed to fundamentally reshape my climbing and my perspective on difficulty. Very excited to leave for the US soon and see what happens next

What are your US plans?
Not sure yet. I'll meet in arizona with my partner Siara and then hit Bishop or Red rocks base on the best conditions. I don't have a specific goal in mind, just keep the flow going and climbing on what gets me the most psyched. I'm keen and very curious to check Yosemite boulders if there is a chance.

Eva Hammelmüller, who previously in 2025 has sent 14 routes 8c+ and beyond, has done Dschungelfieber (8c+) in Dschungelbuch. In the VL female ranking game, the 23-year-old is runner up after Laura Rogora.

”I got caught with the fever the first time I tried this route. This line is the most vertical hard route I've climbed so far, which makes it technically incredibly demanding. The combination of old-school climbing (Reini first ascended the route in 1992) and new-school moves (including a palm-press) was so much fun. Thanks to Reini for fixing the broken hold and to the whole Dschungel crew for the support. I think that even if I didn't climb, I would go to Dschungel just to have a good time, sitting in the sun drinking Bialetti coffee and eating self-made pizza :D”

Adam Shahar has repeated Daniel Woods’ Return of the Sleepwalker (9A) in Black Velvet Canyon. The 20-year-old, who has been #7 in a World Cup, has progressed one grade per year since he sent his first 8A+ at age 15. (c) Yulen Calleja Ordiz

Can you tell us more about the ascent?
ROTSW consists of some of the most amazing holds and move’s in RR. My psych on the line was first sparked watching Daniel battling it out for the FA. 3 years later I found myself on top of sleepwalker with a strong goal ahead. That was to do return. Return had been lingering in my mind the past year and this fall I came out to to Redrocks to give it some effort. I wasn’t very far off! With a bit more fitness I knew it would come soon. After a good break back home in NJ trying some other projects and clearing my head, I came back to redrocks last week to try and finish it off. After a new high point my first session back, I knew that it was a matter of time. My session on Tuesday was slow, very slow… after repeating the necessary links there was a voice in the back of my head saying this is the day. That’s usually a voice you want to get out of your head, but I was able to flip it to positively benefit me and flow up the wall.

I climbed every move with better efficiency than ever before and then found myself on top of my hardest boulder to date! Thanks to the wonderful people there to support me through it! Second boulder to bring tears to my eyes, and that is SPECIAL. Had a lot of grade talk before sending, but after it seemed most important to disconnect myself from that entirely and soak in the special moment. It is an important discussion for sure. But for now I’ll soak in my extra V points and leave it up future ascents to reach a consensus on where v17 [9A] really lies.

Yanik Chassain, who two months ago sent his first 9a, has repeated Fred Nicole’s Entlinge (8B+) in Murgtal. The 15-year-old has been doing IFSC Youth comps the last two years and in August he got the gold in the Euro Lead Championship.

Can you tell us more about the ascent?
I have been in the Murg valley one week ago and checked out Entlinge for the first time. I already felt comfortable with the lower part but couldn’t do the upper part because of the wrong beta and really humid conditions, although the sun was out and the temperature was good. So after that session I felt already positive and was sure that with better conditions and the correct beta I could send it. So today I went there with better conditions, and after a very good warm-up and a quick send of Fried’s Shield Sit (8a/+) my head was really positive and I was sure that it was the perfect day to send the project.

I went to the boulder, found a good beta for me and could do the upside down part. So I was ready to give real tries from the bottom. On my first try I already climbed until the last hard move, which was very promising for the send. The next two tries were similar, but I felt more and more confident on the moves. On my 4th try everything came together. I sticked the crux move and floated up the boulder until the top. I’m super stoked that it went down so fast (in less than one hour), and I’m now hungry for other hard routes in the valley.

Timo Užnik, with four 8B+’ to his name, has completed Bügeleisen (8C) in Maltatal. The 19-year-old has won four IFSC youth competitions, and among the seniors, his best result is 21st in a World Cup. ”By far the best boulder I’ve done so far. Had lots of people there to share the experience with, so happy about this one!” (c) Sofya Yokoyama

Can you tell us more about the great experience?
I first tried the stand start of Bügeleisen when I was around sixteen. Back then, I could hardly move on it. Two years later, at eighteen, I climbed the stand - but after that I didn’t return to the line for almost a year.

In November I came back with the goal of trying the sit start. I ended up having three sessions on it before the send. The actual send go was completely unexpected. We were seven or eight people at the boulder that Sunday, the 21st of December. I had trained two days in a row beforehand, had barely any skin left, and actually planned to rest that day. But on the drive toward Innsbruck we stopped in the Maltatal, and the conditions were simply too good to ignore.

I warmed up for maybe ten minutes, sat down at the start just to see how I felt - whether I was too tired to try or still fresh enough. I pulled on, and everything just clicked. I fell into this crazy flow state where every move felt solid. I kept climbing, didn’t hesitate, and suddenly I was topping out.

Sending Bügeleisen Sit was a childhood dream come true. It’s one of the most legendary boulders out there, and definitely the best and hardest line I’ve done so far. I love the problem for how beautiful and pure it is, and I’m incredibly happy to have climbed it.

What are your plans for next year?
For 2026, the plan is to do the boulder world cup season and climb some cool boulders mainly in Switzerland and Austria. Since I moved to Innsbruck about two months ago, it‘s great to visit Switzerland more often. For bigger trips I have nothing planned yet though. Rocklands is high on the list, but not for next year probably…

Tyler Thompson, with two 9a+’ under his belt, has made the first ascent of Chicos Superlujuriosos (9a) in Jilotepec. (c) Cameron Maier

Can you tell us more about the ascent?
The route was an obvious linkup between the super classic “las chicas superpoderosas” and “Lujuria” both 14c [8c+] routes recommended to me by Bruno Garcia B.. You do the lower boulder problem crux of Las Chicas and link into the super pumpy headwall of Lujuria, traversing in above the knee bar rest of that one. It was a great endurance challenge and the most fun route on the wall for me! Jstar followed my ascent about 10 minutes after.

Jonathan Siegrist also sent four 8c+’ and onsighted three 8b’s during the three weeks trip. The 40-year-old is having his best year ever having also done three 9a+’ and one 9b in 2025 and he is #4 in the ranking game.

Can you tell us more about the trip?
We came here to Jilotepec, Mexico for an Arc’teryx Climb Team trip and it has been just so amazing. The community here is so welcoming, and the climbing is really fun. I started as team captain early in 2024 and since then I really wanted to build an adventure with the Arc’teryx climbers. I’m so grateful for everyone coming along and dedicating so much energy and time to be here together. As for the climbing we’ve been trying all of the hard ones in Jilo. They are rad! And some more cool projects for the future trip!

With the help of an incredible local climber (and super super strong crusher!) Bruno Garcia B. we were able to organize a big rebolting effort as well.

Jonathan finished the trip by sending Constructor de Sueños (9a) meaning he is approaching 100 routes graded 9a and beyond. ” Last day last try! I knew if I got through the bottom boulder I maybe would have a chance... Very hard low crux on horrible little crimps to a long, pumpy and risky finish. What a perfect ending to such a memorable trip. Grateful!”

Iker Pou, who sent Action Directe (9a) 25 years ago, has repeated Tom Bolger’s Witch hunter (9a) in Margalef.

“I’m very happy. I’ve gone through two very complicated personal years that didn’t allow me to perform at my best, but now I can proudly say I’m back. When you’re young, it’s easy to focus 100% on climbing, whereas as you grow older and responsibilities and problems multiply, it becomes much harder to stay up there. But I’ve fought for it, and I feel I’m returning, and that’s very important to

If you stay strong in sport climbing and you’re able to transfer that first to big walls and then to big mountains, you’ll become a great alpinist. However, if you begin to slip in this discipline, it becomes very difficult to maintain a good level to keep achieving major ascents up there… ”